"Thought, by some means or other, is got abroad in the world, and cannot be restrained, though reading may."
"Whatever the rights of the people are, they have a right to them, and none have a right either to withhold or to grant them."
"The project of hereditary Governors and Legislatures was a treasonable usurpation over the rights of posterity."
"Put a country right, and it will soon put government right."
"When the rich plunder the poor of his rights, it becomes an example to the poor to plunder the rich of his property."
"Who are those that are frightened at reform? Are the public afraid their taxes should be lessened too much? Are they afraid that sinecure places and pensions should be abolished too fast? Are the poor afraid that their condition should be rendered too comfortable?"
"A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be."
"If to expose the fraud and imposition of monarchy, and every species of hereditary government—to lessen the oppression of taxes—to propose plans for the education of helpless infancy, and the comfortable support of the aged and distressed—to endeavour to conciliate nations with each other—to extirpate the horrid practice of war—to promote universal peace, civilization, and commerce—and to break the chains of political superstition, and raise degraded man to his proper rank—if these things be libellous, let me live the life of a Libeller, and let the name of Libeller be engraven on my tomb."
Two eminent personages were burnt in effigy in Europe about this time, one in France, the other in England: Paine and the Pope.
Under date of December 19th, the American minister (Morris) enters in his diary: "Several Americans dine with me. Paine looks a little down at the news from England; he has been burned in effigy."